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BMI for board practices

Robert C. Harris Association Management

I recently had an ultrasound body mass index (BMI) test. BMI is derived by analyzing the mass and height of an individual. It revealed, as expected, that I could lose some fat and build some muscle. Is there a BMI for boards? Good governance can be quantified. Best practices can be measured. Let’s call it the GMI: governance measures index. If directors know their metrics, they can make continuous improvements and use the numbers to justify change.

Selling interior design services in the 2020s

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Two inevitable trends will transform the interior design industry in the coming decade. One is the rise of the millennial client. The other is the maturing of e-commerce. These trends are inextricably linked. Designers who want to remain competitive in this changing market will need to innovate their marketing and business processes to attract and retain these clients.

Infographic: Solving the growing problem of employee turnover

Brian Wallace Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Turnover is a major challenge for business leaders, and with historically low unemployment, it’s only getting worse. The high demand for talent has led to "ghosting" from candidates who accept a job and then never show up after they get a better offer somewhere else. Employee turnover is time-consuming and expensive, but you may have a secret weapon: benefits. Learn how the right mix of benefits can improve turnover by up to 138%.

What does the Fed’s interest rate cut mean for businesses, workers?

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

Economic growth is slowing down. The growth in the nation’s gross domestic product declined to 2.1% for the second quarter of 2019 compared with 3.1% for the first quarter. In part due to this slowdown, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee cut the federal funds rate by a quarter point from 2% to 1.75% on Sept. 18 to bolster economic growth, the labor market and price stability, in keeping with the mission of the central bank. What does the Fed’s move mean for business and workers?

Infographic: How to use tablets for business

Sonali Datta Science & Technology

The rise in tablet technology is ushering in innovations to increase user productivity, drive workflow efficiency and improve the overall customer experience. Modern and sophisticated tablet usage has facilitated cost reductions for the enterprise and improved business functionalities. However, at the same time, companies cannot ignore the impending challenges that tablet usage brings along. Take a close look at this infographic to understand how tablet usage is influencing work environments and how a solid mobile device management (MDM) solution can help secure tablet data at your business.

Are mission statements actually important after all?

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with mission statements. For leaders, they can be valuable tools to keep a large organization, multiple offices or a new company focused on the same core ideas. For consultants, advisory firms and organization development experts, they are often the starting point for developing strategic plans, repairing negative issues or building corporate culture. Yet, unless the organization is in some sort of transitional phase, mission statements often collect dust on the shelf. Some recent research, however, underscores the importance of the words used in mission statements.

Malls without walls: The stealth privatization of public space in the US

Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building Materials

To architects and urban designers, the "public realm" has become sacred in planning systems and urban visions over the last two decades. The space between buildings has become seen as equally consequential as the buildings themselves. This often results in captivating sketches and visualizations of new development or transformed town centers. But the creeping privatization of the land rights and management regimes that underlie those sketches is provoking questions about how the ownership of the public realm impacts our experience of it.

Should your company have a political expression policy?

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Political discussions can turn heated in a heartbeat. At work, this may be energy that is better spent on work-related projects. On the other hand, political discourse can also lead to greater understanding and perhaps result in new friendships. Knowing that the former may be more likely than the latter, some companies are implementing political expression policies. But is this really necessary?

Tips for using chatbots to improve your marketing

Lisa Mulcahy Marketing

Chatbots are both the wave of the present and the future. Research estimates that by next year, a whopping 80% of businesses will utilize this kind of AI technology, primarily as a real-time chat tool with consumers via instant messaging. How can you best refine your chatbot technology so it pleases your customers and provides them with the info and convenience they need to buy your products over and over again? Try these tips.

Strategies for acing payroll at year-end

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The intensity of payroll tends to increase at year-end, which is known as the most hectic time of year for payroll professionals. Without proper planning, things can go off the rails, leaving you with a slew of problems in the new year. To avoid this dilemma, follow these steps. For example, considering the huge amount of work that comes with year-end payroll processing, it’s best to start as early as possible — ideally, no later than the beginning of October.

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